The following two tabs change content below. Sea otters are carnivores in the family Mustelidae—a group of animals that also includes terrestrial and semi-aquatic forms such as weasels, badgers, skunks, fishers, minks, and river otters. Archaeological evidence indicates that for thousands of years, indigenous peoples have hunted sea otters for food and fur. Sea otters have the densest fur in the animal kingdom – with up to a million hairs per … Photo source: Wikipedia. Sea otters are very social animals that can live in groups made up of hundreds of individuals. Not only do they hold each other’s paws when resting but they may also wrap themselves in that kelp or seaweed to keep themselves safe. 8. OTTER FACTS FOR KIDS! The sea otter is one of the smallest marine mammal species, but it is the heaviest member of the weasel family. While river otters mostly live off fish, crayfish and crabs, sea otters have a more interesting method of sustaining themselves. Today I want to write about one of the most fascinating animals in the world, the sea otter. They use their sea whiskers to find small creatures to eat, and their paws to dig for clams. Photo of the day: black and white puffins, Grass snake sighting – fantastic video of a snakelet, Photo of the day: Osprey a magnificent hunter. The single pup (twins are rare) may be born ashore or at sea and is nursed 6 to 12 months. Along the Pacific coast, sea otters help control the sea urchin population. Rather fittingly, these groups of sea otters are called rafts. Sea otters are equally active both night and day. While Buzzfeed, (Apr 14) had found out that the number one reason that sea otters are dying is because of oil spills! They live in offshore forests of giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera), and spend most of their active time foraging below the canopy. “Male sea otters typically grasp the female from behind and bite her face, and this rough behavior was associated with the deaths of about 11 percent of dead sea otters … A “keystone species” is a species that is critical to how an ecosystem functions because it has large-scale effects on the communities in which it lives. Fact 1 Male otters are generally known as meowters. Sea otters eat clams, mollusks, crabs, snails, starfish, abalone, and many other marine animals (overall about 100 species) . Nowadays, sea otters are beloved due to their appearance and charismatic personalities. By. It is known as the common otter or northern river otter. There’s no denying that sea otters rank right alongside baby sea turtles and tiny clownfish as some of the cutest ocean inhabitants. Sea otters generally forage close to shore in depths shallower than 18 meters (60 feet) but are capable of diving to depths of 90 meters (300 feet) or more. Ten fun facts about Otters. Singapore is hooked on cute otters Otters have become a common sight in garden city Singapore, with a family otters seen casually taking strolls at Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park, Toa Payoh, and even in St Andrew’s Junior College. Sea otters communicate through body contact and vocalizations, although they are not overly vocal. Fact2: Weighing between 30 and 100 pounds, the sea otter is the world’s smallest species of marine mammal. 7 FUN FACTS ABOUT OTTERS! The rest do it in a den which are often created by other animals like beavers. Although concentrated in June, some breeding occurs in all months; most births occur in summer. Their beautiful fur is a main target for many hunters. They generally reside in places where the water is warm and the land is sandy. Asher Collins is a student and author based in the UK. In adults, the head, throat, and chest are lighter in color than the rest of the body. The size of the California (or southern) sea otters is about 4 feet. Weight of otter depends on their breed. 3. 2. Sea otters can reach speeds of 1.5 km/h (0.9 mph) on the surface and 9 km/h (5.6 mph) while diving. Other Fun Facts. They're hungry animals! People also call it North American river otter. Share: Facebook Twitter Google Plus. Almost all otters have webbed feet, some more webbed than others, and they can close off their ears and nose as they swim underwater. This semiaquatic mammal has the weight of 11 to 30.9 lb or 5 to 14 kilograms. The northern sea otters can weigh as much as 100 pounds. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Scientists Across The Globe Create A ‘Roadmap to Recovery’ to Reverse The Insect Apocalypse, Last Chance To Save Madagascar’s Unique Wildlife. Females tend to stay away from males except when mating. Sea otters are from 1 to 1.5 meters (3.3 to 4.9 feet) in length and typically weigh between 14 and 45 kilograms (31 and 99 lb). But the sea otter’s habitat is unique, as they only live in shallow coastal waters in the North Pacific ocean. Sea otters don't just have the densest fur of all otters — they have the densest fur of all animals. This coat has two types of fur in it; underfur and guard hair. For one of the smallest marine mammals on Earth (yet the largest member of the weasel family), the sea otter has racked up quite a few superlatives: 10. That’s the same as an average teenager eating 120 hamburgers. 3. Wildlife Articles © 2019. 10) Although sea otters hunt for food alone, they tend to rest and sleep in same-sex groups called rafts. Cuteness! The others use it as a powerful weapon and to navigate their movements in the water. Pups are carried on the female’s chest as she swims belly up. 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